The Water Is Warm in May: Ocean Experiences at The Hideaway at Hull Bay
Find out why The Hideaway is a favorite destination for every type of stay.
Ocean Experiences at The Hideaway at Hull Bay
Hull Bay is a north shore surf break on St. Thomas. Clear water. Atlantic trade winds coming off the open ocean. A local beach that most visitors to the island never find because it sits on the quiet side, away from the resort corridor and the cruise ship stops.
The water here is warm in May. About 80 degrees. Calm enough on most mornings to paddleboard from one end of the bay to the other without fighting anything, and clear enough that you can see the bottom from the surface.
Every May, artists all over the world spend the month drawing mermaids for #MerMay, an annual challenge that has been running for years. The scenes they imagine capture the best vibes of early summer. Warm shallow bays. Turquoise water. An ocean that feels like it belongs entirely to whoever is in it.
And you know, Hull Bay, St. Thomas, is exactly that kind of place.
What Hull Bay Is Actually Like
Hull Bay sits on the quieter north shore of St. Thomas, a surf break with a gentle curve and consistent trade winds that most island visitors never reach. It is a locals' beach, the kind that does not appear on the standard tourist itinerary because it requires knowing where to go on the north side of the island rather than following the signs toward the resort corridor.
The Hideaway estate sits directly behind the beach. The gate to Hull Bay Beach is steps from the villas and cottages. There is no shuttle, no resort pickup stop, no five-minute walk through a parking lot. The beach is through the gate.
In May, the north shore trade winds run consistently, keeping the air temperature comfortable even as the season shifts into spring and early summer. The crowds that characterize peak season from December through April have thinned, which means the bay feels even more like it belongs to whoever is on it.
Ocean Experiences Available to Hideaway Guests
Hull Bay is one of St. Thomas's few surf breaks and draws local surfers year-round. Paddleboarding on the bay is available for guests, with the calm interior offering a stable surface for SUP on most mornings before the afternoon trade winds pick up. Snorkeling along the bay's edges brings guests into contact with the coral and sea life that characterizes the north shore's cleaner waters.
For guests who want to venture further, The Hideaway's concierge team can arrange water sports rentals, boat charters, and day trips to neighboring cays and beaches. St. John and the British Virgin Islands are accessible by ferry from Red Hook, about 25 minutes from the estate by car.
The Shack, located directly next to the estate gate, is where guests tend to end up after time on the water. Cold drinks, fresh local seafood, and a beach bar that looks directly at the bay. There are harder ways to end a morning in the water.
Staying at The Hideaway in May
May sits in what locals consider the shoulder season, after the peak dry season and before the summer high season. For guests, this translates to better availability, the same warm water and reliable trade winds, and a quieter version of the island that feels more like what the north shore actually is rather than what it looks like in peak season photos.
Individual cottage stays are available from two guests up, with the studio cottage and one-bedroom configurations offering the most intimate option for solo travelers or couples. For families or small groups wanting more space, Villa 1 and Villa 2 each offer three bedrooms, wrap-around porches, full kitchens, and living areas that open to the estate grounds and the bay beyond.
For larger groups arriving for Memorial Day weekend or a late-spring group trip, partial and full estate buyouts are available for up to 36 guests. The pool, pavilion, and beach access create a setting where the whole group stays together without anyone needing to coordinate transportation or reservations.
May at The Hideaway Farm
The transition from dry season to early rainy season in May is when The Hideaway's two-acre farm is at its most lush. The banana orchard fills in, the garden beds are productive, and the farm pathways that wind through the estate are surrounded by the kind of tropical color that inspired the MerMay artists in the first place.
Farm-to-table dinners in the pavilion in May feature what the farm is producing at the transition of seasons, curated by Chef Risa from whatever is at peak. For guests who want the full experience of the estate, the combination of a morning in the water at Hull Bay and a private farm dinner in the pavilion as the sun sets over the north shore is about as complete a version of the place as it gets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water like at Hull Bay in May? Hull Bay on the north shore of St. Thomas has water temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit in May. The bay is a calm surf break with clear water and consistent Atlantic trade winds. It is suitable for swimming, paddleboarding, and snorkeling, and is calmer and less crowded than St. Thomas's east and south shore beaches in May.
What ocean activities are available to guests at The Hideaway at Hull Bay? Guests at The Hideaway at Hull Bay have direct access to Hull Bay Beach through the estate gate. Paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkeling are available in the bay. The Hideaway's concierge team can arrange boat charters, day trips to St. John, and water sports rentals for guests wanting to explore further.
Is May a good time to visit St. Thomas? Yes. May is the beginning of St. Thomas's shoulder season, which brings warmer water, consistent trade winds on the north shore, lighter crowds than peak season, and often better availability at properties like The Hideaway at Hull Bay. Weather is generally reliable, with brief afternoon showers possible.
Can I book an individual cottage at The Hideaway at Hull Bay in May? Yes. The Hideaway at Hull Bay offers individual cottage and villa bookings for 2 or more guests, including studio cottages and one-bedroom configurations for couples and solo travelers. Check availability at hideawayhullbay.com.
What is MerMay? MerMay is an annual art challenge created by former Disney animator Tom Bancroft, where artists draw mermaid-themed artwork throughout the month of May and share it on social media under #mermay. It has grown into one of the most widely participated art challenges on Instagram and TikTok, drawing on the imagery of warm tropical waters, ocean freedom, and Caribbean light. Hull Bay, St. Thomas, provides the real-world version of the environments MerMay artists imagine.